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Chapter Ten:

It was with great relief that Zoe entered her fifth month of pregnancy in March. There had been times where she thought they wouldn't make it this far, the majority of last month included. Whilst she still whether the fluttering feelings in her abdomen were the baby there was now no getting away from the fact she had a rounded bump where a flat stomach used to lay. Zoe and Max were due to start attending antenatal classes this month and every time they met up with their obstetrician he would badger them about labour and birthing plans. This month provided a sort of reality check for the couple who, only just used to the fact they were pregnant, were being forced to admit that very soon they were having a baby.

"Now I know I keep asking but have you thought anymore about a birthing plan?" Doctor Moore asked as he welcomed the couple into his office. At first they had weekly appointments and after a while, when Dr Moore was happy, they put these back to two weekly. After last month's scare they had returned to weekly scans however and today they were due their fifth month ultrasound. Max was hoping they'd be able to find out the sex of the baby and had woken in a mood resembling that of a child on Christmas. Zoe remained quiet, like she did on most scan days, apprehensive over excited.

"Not yet" Max offered timidly as he helped a pale looking Zoe into the bed. She gripped his hand tightly. "We are going to an antenatal class this afternoon though" Max offered proudly.

"No we're not" Zoe mumbled, her voice barely audible. Max chose to ignore her but Dr Moore offered a sympathetic smile in his direction.

"Now that is good news" he replied, lifting Zoe's top. When he began to feel her abdomen, placing pressure on different areas, she panicked and tensed wondering what was wrong. "I'm just checking the size and position of the baby before we start" he explained, noticing the way she looked at Max with wide eyes. "It feels like we might be in a good position to find out the sex today" he added with a grin. Max had to contain his excitement as he focused on calming a hesitant Zoe by rubbing circles into the back of her hand.

The doctor began the scan making small talk about the antenatal classes and how to ease the chronic back pain that was almost reducing Zoe to tears after a long shift in the ED. He took a few measurements and expressed his happiness about how well the baby was growing.

"Would you like the know the gender?" Dr Moore asked, looking between Max and Zoe. Zoe kept her eyes focused on Max making little indication either way.

"Would we?" Max asked softly, squeezing her hand. The doctor could sense Max's excitement and encouraged Zoe, reminding her that everything looked good and that the baby was doing very well. When she gave a hesitant nod, Max grinned.

"You're having a baby girl" He informed them happily, watching Max's excitement grow. "You were right" he laughed at Max who nodded enthusiastically. The porter looked down at Zoe to find both tears in her eyes and a tiny smile on her lips.

"We're having a daughter" Max whispered extending a hand to stroke her cheek. She reached up to clutch his hand, fiercely blinking away her happy tears.

"A little girl" she repeated softly, her smile turning into a wide grin. Max just nodded, resisting the childlike urge to bounce up and down with excitement. Doctor Moore smiled happily as he wiped Zoe's abdomen and cleaned his equipment.

"Now, will you promise me you'll attend this antenatal class later?" The doctor asked, his question pointed at Zoe. She offered a hesitant and slight nod despite the fact she'd rather do anything but go. "And start that birthing plan for me!" he added.

"We will" Max promised softly, helping Zoe sit up. "Only the best for my daughter" he added, his grin returning.

Very few people in the ED knew officially about the baby, because Zoe had refused to let Max make the announcement he'd wanted to. Their only source of knowledge was from gossip and the changes Zoe's body seemed to be going through.

When Zoe and Max arrived at work that morning after the scan, Max was still grinning from ear to ear, and though Zoe looked a little less enthusiastic, her eyes were still sparkling with happiness. It didn't last long, however, because a pregnant woman was wheeled into the ED.

"I'll take her." Connie offered. Zoe shook her head. She'd given up resus, and cubicles were her thing now and she was determined to show she could cope. Still, she glanced at Max before she went to talk to the patient and her husband. Max glanced towards Connie, who after a moments hesitation gave him the nod that allowed him to follow his wife, hanging by the end of the bed.

When the husband finally asked what he was doing, Max offered a smile. "Premium service, in case your wife needs any scans."

"Will I?" The woman looked up at Zoe with the same panicked eyes Zoe knew she often used.

"I would like to give you an ultrasound, just to check the baby isn't in distress." Zoe replied.

The woman studied Zoe and then gave a nod, trusting her. "Okay. How far along are you?" Zoe halted at this question. The only people she'd even spoken to about the baby properly was Max and Dr Moore.

"I..wh...I..."

"Five months" Max offered with a smile noticing the way Zoe seemed unable to form a sentence together.

"He's the-" Zoe paused. "We are-" she tried again before settling on "this is my husband" as a way of explanation. "I like to keep that quiet though, don't want everyone knowing I married below myself" she teased with a laugh. Max grinned.

"Congratulations" the patient's husband offered with a smile. "Boy or girl?"

"We found out this morning we are having a daughter" Zoe told them softly, her eyes glittering, still not quite believing it herself.

"We're having a boy" the patient told Zoe as they helped her climb onto the bed.

"Let's check in on the little one then and see if everything is okay" Zoe offered gently, preparing the ultrasound. She much preferred being on this end of the scan she decided, she felt so much more in control. Max smiled encouragingly at her as he watched her work her magic managing to calm the patient and her husband before diagnosing her with something relatively simple and making their day whilst doing so.

"You're amazing, you know?" Max told her as they walked from cubicles together in order to get a coffee. Zoe smiled.

"I know" she replied with a wink.

"You are coming to that class today aren't you?" Max asked hesitantly ordering two coffees and a chocolate muffin. He watched Zoe's expression fall and instantly regretting asking. It had been so good to see her as the confident Dr Hanna all morning and watch her leave her anxiety behind.

"Max" she sighed softly, watching him pay for the coffees before handing one to her. They turned towards her office in silence.

"I know you don't want to but we need to start facing up to this Zo" Max told her softly. "If you hate it, we won't go again but we have to try." Zoe nodded, he made a fair point. They had to try at least.

"Fine" she replied begrudgingly.

"I'll come back at three to get you" he told her with a grateful smile as they stopped outside her office.

"Let's not pretend you're going to stay away for that long" Zoe replied with a laugh. Max just grinned before walking away. It came as no surprise to Zoe that when she looked up from her computer less than an hour later, he was loitering outside with a silly grin on his face.

"Don't you have work to do?" Zoe called out the office door.

Max glanced at her and his smile grew. "Not sure if you're aware, but I'm going to have a baby girl!"

"Well for one, I'm having the baby, not you, and two, go and do some work before you get fired!" Zoe gave him a forceful push from her doorway, smiling to herself when she heard him whistling.

"No!" She crossed her arms as they stood outside the room which housed the classes.

"Why not?" Max asked, stepping out of the way of another couple entering.

"I can't!" Was Zoe's only offer of an explanation.

"Why don't we go in and sit at the back? We don't have to get involved at all if you don't want to, we can just listen. Please, Zo. I want to know what to expect, and those books Robyn gave me are terrifying!"

Zoe dug her heels in and refused to in for another ten minutes, so that when they finally walked inside the class had already started. Consequently, when they walked in all eyes turned to them and Zoe stopped, intending to leave, but Max continued to push her into the room, giving the teacher an apologetic smile before forcing Zoe into a seat. He could feel her shaking with anxiety next to him and reached for her hand, but she pulled it away, eyes focused on the video that was playing.

"That woman over there looks like a female Charlie." Max eventually whispered into Zoe's ear, trying to at least make her smile. When he saw her glance at the woman and the corner of her mouth twitched, he added, "And it looks like Big Mac is the daddy."

By the time the video on labour had finished Max looked absolutely terrified and Zoe would have laughed had she not felt so traumatised herself. Even reminding herself that she was a doctor who had successfully delivered a number of babies didn't seem to help.

"Fuck" Max muttered into her ear as the teacher closed the video and their waited in silence. Zoe just elbowed him in the ribs.

"If you'd all like the grab a mat we'll try some breathing exercises" the lady called out. Zoe looked at Max and rolled her eyes.

"Why do I need a mat to breath?" She asked, reluctance evidence in her voice. Max grabbed a mat and helped her sit down, sitting behind her with a lazy arm draped around her middle. He rubbed gentle circles into her abdomen in an attempt to calm her as the teacher talked about the importance of breathing correctly during labour.

Zoe felt self-conscious as they began the breathing exercises and as looked around in hope that everyone felt as she did but she found them joining in with little reluctance. If it wasn't for Max's comforting hand on her middle restraining her from moving she would have been out that room as quickly as possible.

"I hope you're very proud of your mummy" Max whispered as he rubbed her middle. His voice was only loud enough for Zoe to hear but she still elbowed him as she half-heartedly joined in with the class. Zoe felt a familiar flutter in her abdomen and when Max said nothing she ignored it, passing it off as indigestion. It happened again and she felt Max's hand move slightly. He prodded her middle, where she'd felt the movement, only to feel only a stronger flutter which felt more like the poke she'd received from Max.

"Was that..." Max whispered, his voice full of wonder. Zoe pretended she hadn't heard, for she'd felt something familiar just before she started bleeding the month before. Eyes focused on the teacher, this time Zoe really tried to calm her breathing. Deciding because Zoe had said nothing that he must have imagined it, Max rested his hand flatly on Zoe's middle, intending to focus on the teacher. Both Zoe and Max were sure what the next, forceful kick was and Max's exclamation caused the whole room to stop and turn with a frown, wondering why he'd sworn so loudly.

He smiled apologetically and they all turned back to the teacher as she began to talk again, curiously looking over at Max and Zoe again. Max returned his hand back to Zoe's middle and encouraged the baby to kick again.

"Ow" Zoe muttered as the baby did so. Max rubbed her abdomen tenderly as she once again tried to focus on the class. Worn out from her escapades the baby seemed to fall quiet for a while allowing Zoe and Max to get to grips with birthing positions. Zoe attempted to join in but she silently begged the ground to swallow her up periodically.

When the topic of conversation turning to their own labour the teacher encouraged a group chat in which they went found the circle sharing their birthing plans. Max could feel Zoe twitching, her body growing tenser as they got closer and closer to having to share. They were several couples away when Zoe suddenly scrambled to get feet. Max attempted to pull her back but with little luck as she hurtled from the room, grateful they'd sat near the back.

He debated going after her but he didn't get a chance because soon the teacher was asking him about his intentions for the birth.

"We umm...we ah..." He glanced at the door, hoping that Zoe might reappear, though he knew she wouldn't. "Perhaps we might have a home birth. Z...my wife is a doctor and she doesn't much like being a patient, so I wonder if she might find it less stressful at home."

There were murmurs of agreement and Max let out a sigh, relieved he seemed to have answered correctly. He stayed only until the last person had given their plans before he rushed out to try and find Zoe. First he thought she might have gone back to work, but he was unable to find her in the ED so set about looking in all the other places he might find her. It was only when he'd searched all the places and come up empty that he retreated to his office where his mobile lay. Max paused in the doorway when he saw Zoe sat inside, in the corner with her legs drawn up at her chest.

Without either of them uttering a word, Max entered the room, shut and locked the door and then approached Zoe. He sat next to her and drew her into his arms, holding her tightly.

They stayed silent for a long while, enjoying the solace of each other's company. Max was sure she'd like the class if she'd give it a go and now he felt stupid for insisting they attend.

"Thanks for trying" Max offered softly. "I'm sorry I made you go when I knew you didn't want to" he added timidly.

"Sorry" Zoe replied, her voice quiet. "Finding out we're having a girl, her kicking, that class..." Zoe trailed off. "Perhaps it was all too much for one day" she added gently. Max nodded understandingly. "I'd like to give it another go though" Zoe told him.

"We don't have to" Max told her honestly, dropping a kiss to the top of her head, unsure whether she was telling the truth or lying to make him feel better. Zoe smiled.

"I'd like to" she told him softly. "Maybe not an NHS one mind" she added with a giggle. Max laughed softly and agreed. It was all he'd been able to find at short notice but hopefully they'd be able to sort something now that suited them better. They lulled into another short silence.

"Was it me or did our little girl start kicking in there?" Max asked a grin appearing on his lips. Zoe smiled, nodding.

"I've got the bruise to prove it" Zoe replied.

"Has she done that before?" Max asked carefully. Zoe shrugged.

"I've felt this weird fluttering for a while, I didn't know whether it was her or not. The night I-" Zoe paused. "The night I went to hospital she was doing it a lot, that's why I freaked out a little bit in the class" she explained softly. Max nodded, dropping another kiss to her head.

"I wish you'd have told me" Max replied sadly. Zoe nodded. She wished she had too. There were lots of things she wished she were brave enough to tell Max. "Hey, they all liked my birthing plan" Max teased. Zoe turned to face him, her forehead furrowed in confusion.

"What birthing plan?"

"The one they quizzed me on when you'd left" he replied. Zoe looked at him apologetically and he smiled.

"So come on then daddy, let's here this masterplan?" She teased, patting her abdomen softly.

"I said we might like a home birth. After all, we spend enough time in hospital. I thought it might be more relaxing for you" he told her carefully. Zoe offered a smile and a gentle nod.

"I think I'd like that" she told him honestly. "Just you, me and the doctor" she added. Doctor Moore had already told them he'd be present at the birth knowing Zoe trusted him. He didn't want to enforce someone new on her at the last minute and aimed to keep her as calm as possible throughout.

"That's sorted then" Max replied with a smile. "A home birth at Walker Towers?" Zoe nodded for conformation with a giggle. "See-" he added softly. "That wasn't so hard was it?" Leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers Max dropped a soft kiss to her lips.

"I love you." Zoe whispered softly.

Max smiled and again pressed his lips to Zoe's. Slowly, as their kisses became more fervent, she began to uncurl herself so she could get closer to Max, and it was this position Robyn found them in a short time later.

"Max, have- Oh. Oh god. You're not-"

"No! We're not. What do you want?" Max asked, forcing himself to his feet as Zoe gave a soft laugh behind him.

"I was looking for Zoe, actually. Connie is looking for you, she thought you'd be back by now." Robyn spoke to Zoe who was still half hidden behind Max.

With a sigh, Zoe allowed Max to pull her up and then she smoothed her dress, biting back a smile when she felt a now familiar flutter. "Can you tell her I'll be down in a minute?" Robyn nodded, gave the couple one last embarrassed glance and then rushed away, leaving the door wide open.

"What did she think we were doing? Have some sort of weird small space corner sex?" Max asked, incredulous.

Zoe laughed and dropped a kiss to her husband's cheek. "To be fair, I was thinking about it."

"Me, too." Max replied with a smile. "Come on then, Doctor Hanna, back to work. Only a couple of hours to go and then how about I cook us Chinese for dinner and then we watch terrible TV and eat chocolate all evening?"

Zoe nodded enthusiastically because nothing sounded more perfect. Max helped Zoe to her feet before kissing her cheek softly. As she rushed off to find Connie he headed back to work himself, a content smile playing on his lips.

No matter how many times Max told her, Zoe would never stop working too hard. Two hours after she was supposed to finish her shift, he finally found her with Connie still working on a high profile case involving a local prisoner. When she saw Max looking forlorn in the corridor, changed into his normal clothes she walked out of the side room.

"Max I'm so sorry" she apologised softly, glancing at the time. He shrugged with a soft smile.

"Will you be much longer?" He asked and Zoe looked back at the patient with a worried glance.

"I really want to see this one though" she told him carefully. Max nodded despite his initial worries about her working too hard.

"As long as you feel up to it" he replied with a smile.

"I would be if your daughter wasn't beating me up from the inside out" Zoe teased. Max extended a hand to her middle regardless of the people around. Sure enough, their daughter was moving around. From the outside it felt like gentle fluttering but Zoe assured Max that it felt like she was being beaten up. It was only set to get worse over the next few months as their daughter grew in strength. Although she pretended to mind, Zoe was secretly overjoyed. Feeling their daughter move around had helped to lift her spirits today and ease her exhaustion as the baby left little reminders that she were there.

"Shall I head home and start dinner?" Max asked, unsure about what to do. Zoe nodded. It was only early evening but she couldn't see herself finishing work until much later on. "I'll take the car. Get a taxi home later, I don't want you driving tired" Max told her sternly. He knew she had a tendency to fall asleep as soon as she was in a moving vehicle. Zoe nodded bashfully before rolling into her tiptoes to softly kiss her lips.

"I love you" she reminded him. Max grinned, resting his forehead against hers.

"I love you too" he replied frankly before extending a hand to her middle. "And you Zoe junior" he added with a smile. He was met with a kiss from Zoe and a kick from the baby.

As Max made his way home, Connie pretended she hadn't just watched their exchange, but a few minutes later she pulled Zoe aside to make sure she was okay to keep working. When Zoe assured Connie she was, the doctor hesitated and then finally offered. "I remember how tiring it was being on my feet all day and I'm swamped under with paperwork at the moment, so perhaps you would like to treat patients in the morning and help me with paperwork in the afternoons? That way you could get away on time and max might actually get some work done."

Zoe gave a slight smile and gave a nod. "That sounds perfect."

Max prepared dinner, but as it didn't take long to cook he waited for Zoe. By the time she'd arrived home, he printed of colour schemes for the nursery, written a list of names he liked and had fallen fast asleep on the couch cuddled up to the toy elephant.

Zoe put tea in the oven before changing out of her work clothes, leaving Max to sleep. She regretted pushing herself so hard that day when moving every limb seemed to take more effort that she had. Walking back through to the living room in her pyjamas she fell onto the sofa, Max's list of potential baby names in her hand. She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she was aware of was the timer on her phone telling her dinner was cooked.

"Max" she called softly, bending as best she could to kiss his forehead. "You need to wake up" she told him. He opened his bleary eyes with a smile, attempting to sit up. "Dinner is ready" she smiled, passing him a plate.

"When did you get back?" He asked, accepting the plate with a grateful smile.

"Maybe like an hour ago?" She asked, looking at her watch. She sat down next to Max on the sofa and took a few careful bites of her dinner, wishing she wasn't too exhausted to actually eat it.

"Is it okay?" Max asked carefully, nodding to her plate as Zoe sat looking at it as opposed to eating it. Zoe nodded with a smile.

"I think I wore myself out at work" she replied honestly. "Everything suddenly seems like a lot of effort" Max smiled sympathetically, diverting his fork to her mouth with a laugh. She accepted the food through a giggle and chewed happily.

"Why don't you go and put a film on in bed?" Max asked, taking her plate from her after they were finished.

After much debate they'd ended up watching a Disney film and although Zoe was enthralled throughout, she fell asleep not long after it ended. She was rudely awoken however around an hour later by their daughter who decided to practise her new found skill of moving around.

"You okay?" Max mumbled into the dark, noticing her fidgeting around.

"Your daughter won't stop moving" Zoe whined, rolling onto her back with a sigh.

"And you wouldn't mind but you're exhausted?" Max asked knowingly, seeing the way her eyes fought to stay open in the dark. Rolling into his side he pulled Zoe against him, resting a hand on her middle. He rubbed lazy circles into her abdomen in hope to calm their little girl. It didn't take long for the baby to settle and for Zoe to subsequently fall asleep. Max gave a smile before settling down beside her, his hand remaining on her middle.